320.2 AA/4–2651: Telegram
The Chargé in Lebanon (Bruins) to the Department of State 1
603. Rapun 143.2 Re Unrap 137.3
Lie arrived Beirut4 depressed by over-all Arab attitude and confused as to Arab position on reintegration. Shortness of visit did not enable him penetrate repatriation smokescreen nor permit us to obtain adequate press statements despite considerable effort.
On last day of visit Fouad Ammoun agreed with me that Arab countries were defeating their own purpose by talking in language of recent note.5 Said he wld attempt to give Lie simple statement of real Arab position in interest of obtaining generous and continuing UN support of reintegration.
As result incomplete impressions, Lie straining for new solutions.
On reintegration Lie talked of large loan program. We suggested he first find new director and 50 million grant money.
On over-all UN activity in area Lie considers situation too complicated. Proposes policy board at Lake Success representing all country and functional interests with one man in area to carry out all policies. We reminded him of sovereignty angle, realism of grass root contacts and occasional merit of separating our old issues from new as with PCC and PRA.
Finally we emphasized next reintegration move is UN not Arab and parted good friends.
- Repeated to Cairo, Damascus, Jerusalem (for Palmer), and Tel Aviv.↩
- Rapuns were apparently from Mr. Blandford in his capacity as United States Representative on the Advisory Committee to UNRWAPNE.↩
- Dated April 21, not printed, but see footnote 1, p. 639.↩
- Department of State files do not indicate inclusive dates of Mr. Lie’s visit to Beirut.↩
- In telegram 605 (Rapun 114) from Beirut, April 27, Mr. Blandford stated in part: “For casual reader aggressive language of aide-mémoire consciously conceals Arab intent to cooperate reintegration.” (320.2 AA/4–2751)↩